Method of manufacturing toilet seat cover and wipe

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a toilet seat cover is disclosed. A single ply of antibacterial material configured to lay on a surface of a toilet is thinly packaged. A portion of the material is plied to allow separation. The material is folded in a manner such as to fit inside thin, individual packaging.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/021,361, filed Jan. 16, 2008, to which priority is claimed, the disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a toilet seat cover and wipes. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of thinly packaging a single ply of antibacterial material configured to lay on a surface of a toilet.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a toilet seat cover. A single ply of antibacterial material configured to lay on a surface of a toilet is thinly packaged. A portion of the material is plied to allow separation. The material is folded in such a manner as to fit inside thin, individual packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus briefly described the invention, the same will become more clearly evident from the following detailed discussion made with reference to the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a roll of ply material used in accordance with the invention used to make the toilet seat cover.

FIG. 2 is a partial side cross sectional view of the ply material used in the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top partial view of a strip of ply material employed in the invention, showing scoring thereof for separating the toilet seat covers and wipes.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a single sheet cut off from the strip of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a section of the single sheet removed to form a wipe.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the ply material illustrating how antibacterial agent is applied to both sides thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the ply material showing the folding at the folding stage during the method of manufacture.

FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the ply material showing the scoring at the cut lines.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a final cut single seat cover.

FIG. 10 is a view as in FIG. 9, showing the seat cover folded.

FIG. 11 illustrates how individual seat covers in folded form are inserted into packaging.

FIG. 12 merely illustrates a box of the type in which the seat covers are packaged for shipping.

FIG. 13 illustrates a vending machine dispenser capable of dispensing seat covers as singles or in six packs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a roll 11 of ply material employed to practice the method of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side partial cross sectional view of the ply material 13 employed in the invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan partial view of a strip 13 of the ply material showing scoring cut lines 15 for the seat covers, and scoring cut line 17 for removing wipes to result in a toilet seat cover 19 in accordance with the invention as further shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

In accordance with the view in FIG. 6, antibacterial agents are applied 21 and 23 on both sides of the strip 13 of ply material. Thereafter, the ply material 13 may be folded as shown in FIG. 7, optionally in five folds at approximately 3.6 inches apart.

FIG. 8 illustrates the cutting step for the strip 13 wherein each individual toilet seat cover 19 is separated from the strip of ply material 13 at score lines 15.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the final folding stages for each cover 19 and wipe in accordance with the invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, the individual wipes, which are typically 3.5 inches in length by about 2.5 inches in height are inserted into a paper or foil package 23 and sealed at the open end. A notch 25 is provided for ease of opening the package.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary packing box 31 for shipping, typically of the size to be capable of shipping approximately 1,100 to 1,200 units.

FIG. 13 is a view of a typical vending machine for dispensing the toilet seat covers of the invention. The covers may be dispensed as single slots 43 or as six packs through larger slots 45. 

1. A method of manufacturing a toilet seat cover, the method including thinly packaging a single ply of antibacterial material configured to lay on a surface of a toilet, wherein a portion of the material is plied to allow separation and wherein the material is folded in such a manner as to fit inside thin, individual packaging. 